LI NETWORK
The Karnataka High Court said that the Karnataka Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has no jurisdiction to decide a dispute.
The High Court said:
“Article 338 of the Constitution does not entrust the commission with the power to take up the role of a court or an adjudicatory tribunal and determine the rights of parties inter se. It has procedural powers of the civil court for inquiring into matters.”
The SC/ST panel had passed an order earlier, which the High Court has set aside.
Justice N Nagaprasanna directed the government to grant all consequential benefits, including retrospective seniority to a pre-university education department’s employee.
The petition was filed by KR Muralidhar.
The respondent, MB Siddalingaswamy, challenged the order of the Commission in the High Court. Both belong to the SC category and work as superintendents in the department of pre-university education.